Stock Markets March 28, 2026

Moscow equities finish flat as mixed sector moves offset each other

MOEX Russia Index ends unchanged amid gains in oil transport and telecoms, losses in fertilizers

By Nina Shah
Moscow equities finish flat as mixed sector moves offset each other

Moscow's main stock gauge closed the session unchanged as a handful of gains in transport and telecom names were balanced by declines elsewhere, notably in fertilizer shares. Commodities firmed and the ruble showed modest movement versus major currencies, while implied volatility held steady.

Key Points

  • The MOEX Russia Index closed unchanged, with gains in select transport and telecom names offset by declines in materials.
  • Commodities strengthened: gold futures and crude oil contracts posted notable increases during the session.
  • Currency moves were modest - USD/RUB ticked higher while EUR/RUB held steady; implied equity volatility did not change materially.

Russia's equity market ended the day with little net movement, as the MOEX Russia Index closed unchanged. Trading produced a mix of winners and losers, with sectors such as oil transport and telecommunications posting modest advances while some materials names slipped.

Market close

At the close in Moscow, the MOEX Russia Index was unchanged at 0.00%.

Top performers

  • Transneft PJSC Pref (MCX:TRNF_p) was the session's strongest mover, rising 0.65% or 9.00 points to finish at 1,386.00.
  • Rostelekom PJSC (MCX:RTKM) added 0.44% or 0.25 points to close at 57.19.
  • OK Rusal MKPAO (MCX:RUAL) gained 0.39% or 0.15 points to end the session at 38.76.

Largest declines

  • PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR) led the losses, falling 2.20% or 162.00 points to close at 7,193.00.
  • ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES) unchanged 1.08% or 0.00 points to end at 0.07.
  • Rosneft PJSC (MCX:ROSN) slipped 0.85% or 4.20 points to finish at 490.45.

By count, rising issues outnumbered decliners on the Moscow Stock Exchange, 130 to 100, while 12 stocks finished unchanged.

Volatility and commodities

The Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which reflects implied volatility on MOEX Russia Index options, was unchanged at 23.99.

Commodity markets saw notable moves during the session. Gold futures for June delivery rose 2.62% or 115.30 to $4,524.30 a troy ounce. In crude markets, the May delivery contract increased 5.46% or 5.16 to $99.64 a barrel, and the June Brent contract climbed 3.37% or 3.43 to trade at $105.32 a barrel.

Foreign exchange and dollar strength

On the currency front, USD/RUB moved up 0.15% to 81.50, while EUR/RUB remained unchanged at 93.81. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.27% at 99.98.


Information in this report reflects the session's closing quotes and commodity and FX levels as reported at the time of market close.

Risks

  • Commodity price volatility - rising oil and gold prices introduce market sensitivity for energy and metals sectors.
  • Currency fluctuations - movements in USD/RUB and EUR/RUB can affect export and import dynamics for Russian companies.
  • Sector concentration risk - gains in a few large names contrasted with losses in others, which could lead to uneven sector performance.

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